US20080098998A1

Engine mounted air-to-air aftercooler

Claim Score by NHIP

Read claim 1, the broadest

Abstract

A combustion air cooling system has an aftercooler operable to supply cooled air to the intake manifold of an engine. A fan is operable to force ambient air through the aftercooler. A variable speed fan drive is operable to control the speed of the fan.

US20080098998A1, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 5

Term

Projected expiry 30 October 2026.

  1. Priority and filed
  2. Published
  3. Today
  4. Projected expiry

14 claims: 3 independent, 11 dependent

  1. 1
    Broadest claimClaim Score 82, broad(NHIP)A combustion air cooling system mounted on an engine in a machine, the engine having an intake manifold, the combustion air cooling system comprising:an aftercooler operable to supply cooled air to the intake manifold;a fan operable to force ambient air through the aftercooler;and a variable speed fan drive operable to control the speed of the fan.
  2. 10
    A combustion air induction system and engine assembly, the engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, the combustion air induction system comprising:a turbocharger operable to produce a supply of compressed air using a supply of exhaust from the exhaust manifold;an aftercooler mounted on the engine, the aftercooler operable to cool the supply of compressed air from the turbocharger;a fan operable to force ambient air through the aftercooler;and a variable speed fan drive operable to control the speed of the fan.
  3. 11
    A method of cooling combustion air for use with an engine, the engine having an intake manifold; the method of cooling comprising:(a) providing an engine cooling system, the engine cooling system having a heat exchanger being an air-to-air type heat exchanger;(b) providing a variable flow of ambient air as a recipient fluid to the heat exchanger;(c) providing a flow of combustion air as a source fluid to the heat exchanger;(d) supplying the engine with a flow of cooled combustion air from the heat exchanger;(e) monitoring a condition within at least one of the engine and engine cooling system;and (f) adjusting the supply of flow of ambient air to the heat exchanger in response to the monitored condition.